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Capps Eager for NAPA Dodge Turnaround in New England

Ron Capps NAPA Dodge at Bristol

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 17, 2014) – Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team head to Epping, N.H., for the second event of the most grueling stretch of the regular season.

The second annual NHRA New England Nationals begins Friday and the NAPA team knows the next three races over three weeks are critical to how it enters the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Last weekend marked the 10th event of the 24-race season but the Rahn Tobler-led team that qualified an impressive third at Bristol Dragway was foiled by a tricky, hot racetrack on Sunday that helped sideline the NAPA Dodge in the first round of eliminations.

“It was disappointing and this season it seems like something always comes up that keeps us from going deep into eliminations on Sundays,” said Ron, who owns 41 NHRA Wally trophies.

“But I have all the confidence in our NAPA team and we’re getting close to getting this turned around.”

Sunday’s opening-round loss made it 17 straight Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events that ended without Ron pulling into a winner’s circle. His fourth loss in the opening round this season contributed to him dropping two spots to seventh in the season standings.

The highlight of the Bristol weekend for Ron was seeing John Collins, the former assistant crew chief for the NAPA team, win the Funny Car title with Don Schumacher Racing’s Make-A-Wish team.

“That was so cool to see J.C. win his first Wally as a crew chief. He’s worked hard and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

A year ago at Epping, Ron qualified fourth and advanced to the semifinals.

“I know the track will be good and it will be a lot cooler than it was at Bristol,” he said of a New England forecast for highs in the mid-70s compared to temperatures more than 10 degrees higher last weekend.

“It will be great to race in New England for the second time. I look forward to seeing a lot of people from our NAPA family I already know from that area, and it will be fun to have them as our guests in the NAPA Club Nitro pavilion at the track.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA Dodge Charger R/T                                                                

Last event Englishtown, N.J. (June 1): Qualified No. 4; lost in first round to Tony Pedregon
A year ago at Bristol: Qualified No. 5; lost in first round to Chad Head
Career at Bristol: Wins 3 (2012, 2006, 2001; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0

           Pts      Events Titles        Rup     Semi   Qtr     1st rd  Poles  DNQ    Win/Loss
2014    7th           10         0            0          5         1         4         1         0             11-10
CAREER          421        41*        41        73        84      164      16        18      517-362
*40 FC/1 TF

Best Time, Speed: 3.964* sec., (5-31-12, Englishtown, N.J.); 320.89 mph (5-31-12, Englishtown)

NHRA MELLO YELLO FUNNY CAR STANDINGS

(after 10 of 24 events)

driver (wins)                              points     behind
1. Robert Hight (4)                      905        —-
2. John Force (1)                        640       -265
3. TOMMY JOHNSON JR.(1)     627       -278
4. Alexis DeJoria (2)                    619      -286
5. Del Worsham                          593       -312
6. Courtney Force (1)                  581      -324
7. RON CAPPS                           571      -334
8. Cruz Pedregon (1)                  538       -367
9. Tim Wilkerson                         533       -372
10. MATT HAGAN                      527       -378
11. JACK BECKMAN                 512       -383

New England Nationals Schedule

Friday: 5:30, 7 p.m., nitro qualifying
Saturday: 1, 3:30 p.m., nitro qualifying
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations

On ESPN:

Saturday: 7-8 p.m. ET, qualifying on ESPN2
Sunday: 1-4 p.m. ET, live eliminations on ESPN

Follow us:

NAPA AUTO PARTS: @theNAPAnetwork
Ron Capps: @RonCapps28

 

Don Schumacher Racing View All

Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), the winningest team in drag racing history, has raced to claimed more than 340 NHRA national event victories and 17 Mello Yello World Championship titles. Headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, DSR fields professional teams competing in both the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series and Factory Stock Showdown, including the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car driven by 2016 World Champion Ron Capps.

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